Leisure in Yogya!

Leisure activities and programs in Yogya can be classified into many categories.

- Archaeological Sites
- Architectural Sites
- Beaches
- Historic & Heritage Sites
- Markets
- Museums and Monuments
- Nature and Outdoors
- Parks & Gardens
- Religious Sites
- Sports & Adventure
- Cultural Performances

There are so many different kinds of activities for locals and travelers to immerse and engage themselves in. Since I’ve already mentioned about the cultural festivals and activities, I shall focus on 3 other programs that people can do for leisure in Yogyakarta.



One can visit the Borobudur, the biggest Buddhist temple in the ninth century. It is not really located in Yogya, but it’s just a 2 hours drive away. Borobudur is the greatest ancient monument in the southern hemisphere. It is one of the wonders of the world, an artificial mountain of 60,000m cube of stone.




A series of events led to the 'downfall' of this monument, but the major renovation in 1973, funded by UNESCO, made Borobudur a place of worship and pilgrimage once again. Once a year, the Buddhists in Indonesia observe Vesak Day, commemorating the birth and death of Siddharta Gautama. The monument is the single most visited tourist attraction in Indonesia. In 1974, 260,000 tourists of whom 36,000 were foreigners visited the monument.

One of the most unique activity one can do; playing golf on Mount Merapi. A golf course sitting on 800 meters above sea level, with just the perfect climate and the most breathtaking panoramic view of Mount Merapi with the hinterland of Yogyakarta and the Indian Ocean is worth trying. These 18 holes, 6370 meters par 72 course is located only 30 minutes drive from the ancient city of Yogyakarta. The blend of the natural beauty and the freshness of mountainous weather, the challenging hilly landscape with Volcanic rocks of million years makes the golf course one of the most attractive courses in Central Java and difficult to forget

Yogyakarta is also a great place for anyone having large passions in extreme sports and tours, where you can find many challenging adventures such as rafting in the rough waters of Progo River, to exploring the daunting yet calm Jomblang Caves. There is a series of extreme adventure sports one can do in Yogya.

Getting in a 4 wheel drive and driving around the slopes of Merapi is a challenge. The southern slope of Merapi has an off road track that can be categorized as an extreme one. It includes forests; steep slopes, and rocky streams, potentially causing vehicles do get trapped and requiring tow services. Off Road Tours are thrilling, but can also be fun. Whenever a car gets stuck, tourists will be actively involved in the rescue attempt to put the car out of the situation. A Willys Jeep is chosen for this tour for its proven durability and performance in the harsh environment.